Sometimes you hear a service employee say "It is a pleasure serving you." I have found it to be a pleasure serving you at St. Paul's. Here are some of the reasons.

St. Paul's is a place where everyone is welcome. I see how beautifully we have welcomed our sister congregation to share space with us, and how our visitors are cheerfully greeted by you.

St. Paul's is a people who care. Attention is given to those experiencing difficult times and tangible expression of love are consistently shown.

St. Paul's is a people who are faithful. There are many who worship who have been affiliated with the church for a long time. Faithfulness and perseverance are key traits listed in the New Testament, as ideals for God's followers. We have a core group of faithful saints.

St. Paul's has a dedicated leadership team. I have seen wisdom, commitment, and sacrifice from those serving in leadership positions. There is a desire for the church to be all that it can been, and to utilize our limited resources to the best possible degree.

St. Paul's is faithful to a mission. Along with care for one another, the mission of any church is to reach out. There always seems to be some activity, from giving food at Super Bowl time to the present gathering of hygiene kits for Night Ministry, that is missional.

These kind of things listed above do make it a pleasure serving you. It is a joy to stand before and lead worship and minister in your midst. It IS a pleasure serving you!

I hope you can take this word of affirmation and encouragement, and share it. There are many people who never heard "I love you" from a parent. Your affirmation may be a tonic to someone's soul. There are those who smile outwardly but yearn to hear something positive about themselves. I have discovered that the word of encouragement is greatly needed in the lives of so many. If God, before the world was created, made us to fulfill purposes (Eph.2:10), then we must be important to Him. The Old Testament says we are "the apple of God's eye." We are created in God's image, and we are unique in this regard.

I hope you can be that person who carries out a ministry of encouragement to those in your life sphere. We can always see what is wrong. But it takes discipline and practice to see what is right. The Psalmist says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. May we have a "spiritual antenna" that notices the downcast person, and seeks them out, and shares a word of encouragement. This is one of those "quiet ministries" to which we are called. It is so easy to criticize and belittle. May we have the discipline to remember to see what is right and good and to enoucrage our friends and neighbors!

Pastor Brad

July is here and the weather is getting warm! Things here at St. Paul's continue to move along and everyone is busy. The Council approved the replacement of the broken cement in front of the church doors which many of you have been asking about. We also approved the purchase of a new garage door for the parsonage and are taking estimates for painting of the outside trim. We have also had to make repairs to the kitchen plumbing and some electric work at the parsonage. It is a blessing that we have the income from the rental of the parsonage to pay for th emuch needed repairs. Everyone knows that a home must be cared for in order for it to last.

Our mission projects are also moving right along. We almost have all of the supplies needed to make 25 hygiene kits for the Night Ministry. In the Fall, we will participate in a new mission project called "USA Cares." This program is designed to help our USA disabled veterans. The Council has voted to demonstrate that "ST. PAUL'S CARES" too. We will cover important details of this program in August.

Please remember to sort through all of your "treasures" for the yard sale in July. This is not really a fund raiser as much as a "fun raiser." We will be selling lunches again and this is a good time to greet people from the community. It is also the date Franklin Park has set for their community garage sale weekend so we hope to have many people stop by the church and shop. We will need help selling our lunches and manning our "Share Wear" booth from the church. If you are able to help in any way, please contact Sue or me. Come on out and help us build St. Paul's! Remember little things do make a difference.

I hope everyone continues to have a great summer. Remember, our church is air conditioned so there is no reason to stay away on a hot summer morning. You are needed at St. Paul's and remember......"It's a place where there is always good news."

See you Sunday!

Debbie Wisowaty
Council President

Special thanks to all those donating Memorial/Tribute gifts in memory of a loved one or for a special occasion.